Neither of the women were at home when they returned. Elaine was still out playing cards, and Claire had not gotten off work yet.

Charlie went back to his bedroom and carefully took the lightning-struck wood out of the box.

He could sense a dense Reiki radiating from the wood.

Sitting on the floor cross-legged, Charlie put the wood in his palm, closed his eyes, executed the mental strength written in the Apocalyptic Book, and slowly inhaled the Reiki into his body.

When he opened his eyes, h